Uganda Cranes over came a hard fighting South Sudan team 1-0 during the TOTAL AFCON 2021 group B qualifier played at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Thursday.

Defender Halid Lwaliwa headed home Faruku Miya’s free-kick in the 85th minute of the game played under closed doors.

Lwaliwa was a substitute, replacing the injured Ronald Mukiibi Ddungu in the 68th minute after pulling a ham-string.

Miya had earlier hit the post with different attempts.

Uganda Cranes’ technical team made a couple of changes in the game.

First, Emmanuel Okwi was replaced by Allan Okello in the 58th minute before Lwaliwa’s forced change.

Karim Watambala and Edrisa Lubega were also introduced for Khalid Aucho and Paul Derrick Nsibambi respectively.

Left back Joseph Ochaya got cautioned in the final stages of the game, a decision that automatically rules him out of the return leg on Monday, 16th November 2020.

‘I am happy for the victory. We really worked hard to break down their resilience which was anticipated because they are a hard nut to break. We look forward the return leg on Monday’ Head coach Johnathan McKinstry remarked after the game.

The win takes Uganda Cranes to 7 points from 3 matches ahead of Burkina Faso (4).